What should I do with the prayers I missed in the past, and I do not know how many there were?
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The questioner : What should I do with the prayers I missed in the past, and I do not know how many there were?
The Shaykh : This has two aspects. The first aspect is that the prayers you missed were left intentionally. In this case, you do not pray them, because even if you prayed them a thousand times, they would not be accepted from you, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1718b meaning it is rejected from him. And whoever intentionally prays outside its time without a valid legal excuse has prayed it contrary to the command of Allah and His Messenger, so it is rejected from him.
The second aspect is that he left them for an excuse, such as forgetfulness, sleep, or the like. In that case, he makes them up, whether the period was long or short. But if he is unsure of the number, he should base it on certainty. So if he estimates that it was ten prayers or eight prayers, he makes up only eight prayers, because that is what he is certain of, and anything more is doubtful. The default for a Muslim is that he prays and does not leave the prayer. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This is a female caller to the program saying, "Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings."
The Shaykh : This has two aspects. The first aspect is that the prayers you missed were left intentionally. In this case, you do not pray them, because even if you prayed them a thousand times, they would not be accepted from you, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردThe second aspect is that he left them for an excuse, such as forgetfulness, sleep, or the like. In that case, he makes them up, whether the period was long or short. But if he is unsure of the number, he should base it on certainty. So if he estimates that it was ten prayers or eight prayers, he makes up only eight prayers, because that is what he is certain of, and anything more is doubtful. The default for a Muslim is that he prays and does not leave the prayer. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This is a female caller to the program saying, "Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings."